Lupine plant named ‘Desert Sun’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant named ‘Desert Sun’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; numerous large yellow-colored flowers arranged on dense terminal racemes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lupinus hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DESERT SUN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant, botanically known as Lupinus hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Desert Sun’.

The new Lupine plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Devon, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new uniform and freely flowering Lupine plants with large attractive flowers.

The new Lupine plant originated from an open-pollination in June, 2005 of a seedling selection of Lupinus hybrid identified as Lupinus Russell Hybrid Seedling WCL 016/01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Lupinus hybrid as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lupine plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in June, 2006 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Devon, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lupine plant by micro propagation in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since March, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Lupine plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lupine have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Desert Sun’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Desert Sun’ as a new and distinct Lupine plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Numerous large yellow-colored flowers arranged on dense         terminal racemes.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Lupine differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in plant growth habit and flower color.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of Lupinus hybrid ‘Manhattan Lights’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,868. Plants of the new Lupine differ from plants of ‘Manhattan Lights’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are shorter than plants of         ‘Manhattan Lights’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lupine and ‘Manhattan Lights’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Manhattan Lights’ have burgundy and         yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lupine can also be compared to plants of Lupinus hybrid ‘Saffron’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,802. Plants of the new Lupine differ primarily from plants of ‘Saffron’ in flower color as plants of the new Lupine have brighter yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lupine plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lupine plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Desert Sun’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Desert Sun’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Desert Sun’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Lupine grown during the early summer in outdoor nursery in Vogelenzang, The Netherlands and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Lupine production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 26° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 16° C. Plants were two years old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lupinus hybrid ‘Desert Sun’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lupinus Russell Hybrid Seedling WCL             016/01, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Lupinus             hybrid, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By micro propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About four to five days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to             six weeks at 15° C. to 17° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About seven to             eight weeks at 15° C. to 17° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; creamy white to light brown             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Main tap root with low lateral branching;             medium in density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; vigorous growth             habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit.         -   Plant height.—About 65.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 57.1 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 21 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—Close to 144A to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, palmately compound with about twelve             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 18.4 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 18.4 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 11.2 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Orbicular.         -   Leaflet shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.         -   Leaflet texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Leaflet texture, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             143A to 143B. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to             139C. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to             N137D; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully expanded             leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to             138A to 138B.         -   Leaf petiole.—Length: About 18.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Single large papilionaceous             flowers arranged in dense racemes; freely flowering habit             with usually about 200 flowers developing per inflorescence;             flowers face mostly outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from late             spring through the summer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; pleasant and sweet.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 44.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm by 2.4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 1C; towards the base, close to             2D; calyx, close to 145C.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Flowers papilionaceous with an             upper standard petal, two lateral petals and a lower keel of             two united petals. Length: Upper standard petal: About             1.8 cm. Lateral petals: About 2 cm. Lower keel: About             1.6 cm. Width: Upper standard petal: About 1.8 cm. Lateral             petals: About 1.3 cm. Lower keel: About 8 mm. Shape: Upper             standard petal: Orbicular; convex. Lateral petals: Obovate;             curved and concave. Lower keel: Ovate; curved and folded.             Apex: Upper standard petal: Emarginate. Lateral petals:             Rounded. Lower keel: Caudate. Margin, all petals: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces, all petals: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, when opening, upper surface: Upper standard             petal: Close to 6A to 6B; towards the margins, close to 6C             to 6D. Lateral petals: Close to 10C. Lower keel: Close to             145D; apex, close to 164B. Color, when opening, lower             surface: Upper standard petal: Close to 6C; towards the             margins, close to 6D. Lateral petals: Close to 10B. Lower             keel: Close to 145D; apex, close to 164B. Color, fully             opened, upper surface: Upper standard petal: Close to 7A;             towards the margins, close to 7C to 7D; with development,             color becoming closer to 4B to 4C with central blotch, close             to 9A. Lateral petals: Close to 10A; with development, close             to becoming closer to 10C. Lower keel: Close to 145D; apex,             close to 164B; color does not change with development.             Color, fully opened, lower surface: Upper standard petal:             Close to 8A; towards the margins, close to 8B to 8C; with             development, color becoming closer to 4B to 4C with central             blotch, close to 9A. Lateral petals: Close to 10B; with             development, color becoming closer to 10C. Lower keel: Close             to 145D; apex, close to 164B; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About 7 mm. Width:             About 6 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely             pubescent. Color, when opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 145C. Color, fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 43.9 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Between 138B and 144C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60° from peduncle             axis Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About             ten. Filament length: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Filament color:             Close to 144B to 144C. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 169B to 169D.             Amount of pollen: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color: Close             to 24A. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 1.3 cm. Style length: About 1.25 cm. Style color:             Close to 150D. Stigma shaped: Club-shaped, fringed. Stigma             color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 144C to 144D.         -   Fruits.—Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 4.6 cm.             Diameter: About 1 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             Close to 165A.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: About ten. Length: About 5 mm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Close to 200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lupine have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone     5. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lupine have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lupine     plants. 

1. A new and distinct Lupine plant named ‘Desert Sun’ as illustrated and described. 